"Are you tired?" she asked, suddenly, with an appeal which caused Alice
to look at her inquiringly, but she did not wait for the unnecessary
negative. "Then come into my room and let us have a little talk before
we go to bed."

As Eleanor sat down Alice threw herself on the floor at her feet, and
resting her elbows upon the convenient knees, with her face upon her
hands, she looked up expectantly.

"I love these cozy talks," she said. "There is something about this
particular hour of the night which makes anything which happens in it of
the greatest importance. How beautiful you are! I love just to look at
you--no wonder father worships you!"

"You are a sweet child, Alice," Eleanor said, stroking the soft hair
affectionately, while unfastening the loose coils until they fell over
her shoulders in masses of rippling gold. "You have no idea how much you
have done to make my life as happy as it is now. What has your father
ever told you about me?"

"Nothing, dear, except that you had suffered much before he met you, and
that it was our privilege to try to make you forget the past."

"Was that all?"

"All about you. He told me how happy you had made him, so of course I
loved you at once."

"And you never asked any questions?"